news

A robotic hand developed at EPFL surpasses the limits of human dexterity with a dual-thumbed, reversible-palm design that can detach from its robotic 'arm' to reach and grasp multiple objects.

Fluoride is used worldwide to prevent tooth decay - for example, in dental care products, table salt, and, in some countries, in drinking water. However, health concerns are raised, particularly in places where fluoride is added to drinking water. An international research team involving the University of Basel has evaluated data from over 11 million births and reached a clear conclusion.

Researchers have deciphered the diet of an important nomadic people in Eastern European history. By analyzing dental calculus, they have provided the first direct evidence that the diet of the Scythians included milk from various ruminants and horses. For centuries, the Scythians have been regarded as a nomadic horsemen people who roamed the vast steppes of Eurasia during the Iron Age.

A team from the University of Geneva shows that it is possible to determine the state of a quantum system from indirect measurements when it is coupled to its environment. What is the state of a quantum system? Answering this question is essential for exploiting quantum properties and developing new technologies.

Anyone who has ever had to get a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan knows that magnetic and highly conductive materials are a no-go in the tube-shaped scanners. However, for complex diagnoses and medical research, this imaging technique often needs to be combined with other methods that require conductive cables.

By rethinking how thin metal threads are woven into a flexible textile, researchers have created a lightweight fabric capable of lifting over 400 times its own weight. The work advances the development of wearables that provide physical assistance without mechanical bulk. Most wearable robotic systems today rely on rigid components with limited comfort and social acceptance.

For the first time and with unprecedented accuracy, a team of researchers from the University of Basel has observed unique energy flow mechanisms in a semiconductor material following excitation by extremely short laser pulses. Gaining a better understanding of these energy flow is vital for improving the efficiency of electronic devices and computer chips.

A team from the University of Geneva has shown that neurons positioned in the wrong place can still perform their function without disrupting the brain's overall operation. Can the brain keep working when its architecture changes? Researchers at the University of Geneva have discovered that neurons located in the wrong place can still carry out their normal function - challenging long-held assumptions about how the brain is organized.

In a Phase 1 clinical study, researchers led by EPFL and their partners report that a new liverand gut-targeted oral drug can safely lower triglycerides and other blood lipids. When we eat, our bodies convert extra calories, especially from carbs, sugar, fats, and alcohol, into molecules called "triglycerides".

Scientists from NTU Singapore and the University of Geneva have discovered a new way to neutralise antibiotic-resistant bacteria, helping chronic wounds heal more effectively. Treating chronic wounds represents a major public health challenge, starting with diabetic foot ulcers, which affect an estimated 18.6 million people worldwide each year.

Memantine, a long-approved and cost-effective drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, could also benefit patients with sickle cell anemia in the future.

Which vinegrowing practices should be adopted to anticipate climate change? A team from the University of Geneva and Agroscope provides clues using climate analogues. What will the climate of a given region be like in 20, 30 or 50 years? Climate analogues provide a robust methodological framework to address this question by identifying regions whose current climate matches the future climate of another area.

More and more young adults abstain from entering committed romantic relationships, and this may be affecting their well-being. A new study conducted at the University of Zurich shows that long-term singles experience a sharper decline in life satisfaction over time and feel lonelier and more depressed - especially in their late twenties.

Overuse of our tendons can cause painful medical conditions for which only limited treatment options exist. Researchers have now deciphered an important molecular mechanism that triggers these problems. Their findings will facilitate the development of new treatments. Complaints such as pain in the Achilles tendon, tennis elbow, swimmer's shoulder and jumper's knee are familiar to many young sportspeople, as well as to older individuals.

A new study led by researchers at ETH Zurich and the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI in collaboration with African partners shows that electric vehicles could be economically competitive in many African countries before 2040 - just as long as charging infrastructure is developed and geared specifically towards solar powered off-grid systems.

A UNIGE and HUG team has, for the first time, described the interaction between the cerebellum and the brain's reward system in people with schizophrenia. Apathy, social withdrawal, and loss of motivation - the so-called ''negative'' symptoms of schizophrenia - are among the most disabling and hardest to treat.

Short exercise sessions can help children build social relationships. This has been demonstrated by researchers from the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health at the University of Basel. An "active" short break could be a fun way to integrate these findings into everyday school life. Exercise is good for many things - including making it easier to establish social relationships.

One of the leading triggers for multiple sclerosis (MS) is an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. However, certain gene variants also play an important role. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now shown that it is the molecular interaction between environmental and genetic risk factors that ultimately triggers the disease.

Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis arise when the immune system turns against the body itself. Yet for most of them, it remains unclear why this process begins. Researchers have now identified how the Epstein-Barr virus can, under specific conditions, initiate early multiple sclerosis-like damage in the brain.

Using images from cameras on Mars orbiters, an international research team led by the University of Bern has discovered structures on Mars that are very similar to classic river deltas on Earth. These are traces of rivers that have deposited their sediments into an ocean. This shows that Mars was a "blue planet" around three billion years ago.